Godmothered: The BRWC Review

While the service boasts a treasure trove of beloved classics, Disney+ still searches for their original content identity. The platform’s debut year showcased a few highlights (Black is King and The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special), though those sparks were matched by a few unceremonious duds (Artemis Fowl and Mulan). Their latest endeavor Godmothered operates in the vein of their charmed live-action work, registering an earnest impression through the film’s inspired twist on familiar fairy tale trappings.

Godmothered follows an eager fairy godmother Eleanor (Jillian Bell) who ventures out on her own to prove her worth. She tracks down a previously ignored request from Mackenzie (Isla Fisher), a widowed woman stuck in a career rut. The unlikely pair form a genuine bond as they begin to re-discover their happily ever after.

Reading like the distant cousin of 2007’s alluring princess remix Enchanted, Godmothered defines its own voice among its fairy-tale elk. Screenwriters Melissa Stack and Kari Granlund set the narrative’s foundation around our preconceived notions of magical godmothers, who often serve as sage helping hands for princesses seeking their one true love. The clever writers then spend the remaining screentime drifting away from those long-standing contrivances. For Eleanor and Mackenzie, their affable connection becomes a tale of mutual self-discovery amidst insular self-doubts. Even with a few emotionally-doughy frames (the central conceits are blatantly spelled out), there’s a genuine sisterhood that resonates with a cozy warmth onscreen.



Much of the credit belongs to the film’s central stars. It’s been a joy to see Jillian Bell define her own presence of late, with the comedic stalwart steadily moving away from the one-note caricatures that Hollywood offered her way (last year’s Brittany Runs a Marathon was a dramatic change-of-pace). As the relentlessly spirited Eleanor, Bell’s infectious presence promotes the pratfall gags while establishing a well-textured character onscreen. Isla Fisher’s radiant charms elevate the straight man role of Mackenzie, while character actors June Squibb, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, and Stephnie Weir elicit laughs from their supporting roles.

Godmothered is admittedly pleasant, though this streaming effort undersells some of its unique strengths. Director Sharon Maguire’s competent effort rarely basks in the glow of its magic-based premise. The Disney-Channel level flourishes limit this material compared to other big-screen offerings. Audiences will also have to contend with a familiar heaping of Disneyfied plot beats, which do distract from the film’s thoughtfully-conceived nucleus (the Disney’s dead dad streaks continues here).

It may not reinvent the wheel, but Godmothered displays the open-hearted sincerity of Disney’s best live-action work. With the release of Soul fast approaching, this could be a marquee month for the growing streaming service.


We hope you're enjoying BRWC. You should check us out on our social channels, subscribe to our newsletter, and tell your friends. BRWC is short for battleroyalewithcheese.


Trending on BRWC:

Dune Part 2: The BRWC Review

Dune Part 2: The BRWC Review

By Rosalynn Try-Hane / 28th February 2024 / 2 Comments
Tim Travers & The Time Travelers Paradox: Review

Tim Travers & The Time Travelers Paradox: Review

By BRWC / 19th March 2024
Spaceman: The BRWC Review

Spaceman: The BRWC Review

By BRWC / 5th March 2024 / 1 Comment
Ride Baby Ride: Short Review

Ride Baby Ride: Short Review

By BRWC / 10th March 2024
Dogman Blu-Ray Comp!

ENDED: Dogman Blu-Ray Comp!

By Alton Williams / 10th March 2024

Cool Posts From Around the Web:



Matt is an American who has grown up for passion for film and its empathetic powers to tell unique stories (especially in the science fiction sphere). Some of his favorites include Inside Llewyn Davis, Her, Goodfellas, Frances Ha and Moonlight.